Johanniter International

Johanniter International

Logo of Johanniter International
Global network of St John Countries with JOIN member organisations
Abbreviation	JOIN
Type	International non-governmental organisation
Legal status	Association without lucrative purpose
Purpose	First aid, healthcare, social services, youth work and international humanitarian aid
Location	Brussels, Belgium
Coordinates	50°50′39″N 4°22′50″E / 50.844082°N 4.380518°E / 50.844082; 4.380518
Region served	Europe and the Middle East
Chairman	Christian Velten-Jameson
Vice Chairman	Ian Mackenzie
General Manager	Daniel McCormack
Representative to the EU	Hermann Bolten
Volunteers	100,000
Website	http://www.johanniter.org

Johanniter International (JOIN) is an international network of charities affiliated to the Alliance of the Orders of Saint John of Jerusalem.^[1] Founded in 2000 and with its office is based in Brussels, Belgium, its 16 member organisations are located in Europe and the Middle East^[2] and focus on emergency rescue, health and social services, and international humanitarian assistance, amongst other aims. Together, the charities dispose of a volunteer base of over 100,000 persons. JOIN’s primary goal lies in facilitating exchange of best practices between its members, achieving closer cooperation among its members on the European and international level, and advocating the interests of its members on the European level.

Since 2006, JOIN has been registered as an association without lucrative purpose (association sans but lucratif), a non-profit organisation under Belgian law. Today JOIN has sixteen members, from Austria, Cyprus, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Wales, plus the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. The member organisations are all national charities founded by Orders of Saint John of Jerusalem (the Johanniterorden, the Venerable Order of St John, the Johanniter Orde in Nederland, and the Johanniterorden i Sverige) which cooperate within the Alliance.

Member organisations

Country	Name	Website
Austria	Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe	Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe
Cyprus	St John Association and Brigade	St John Association and Brigade
England	St John Ambulance in England	St John Ambulance in England
Estonia	Sihtasutus Johanniitide Abi Eestis	Sihtasutus Johanniitide Abi Eestis
Finland	Johanniterhjälpen i Finland	Johanniterhjälpen i Finland
France	Association des oeuvres de Saint-Jean	Association des oeuvres de Saint-Jean
Germany	Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe	Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe
Hungary	Johannita Segitö Szolgála	Johannita Segitö Szolgála
Italy	Soccorso dell'Ordine di San Giovanni Italia	Soccorso dell'Ordine di San Giovanni Italia
Jerusalem	St John Eye Hospital Group	St John Eye Hospital Group
Latvia	Sveta Jana Palidziba	Sveta Jana Palidziba
Netherlands	Johanniter Orde in Nederland	Johanniter Hulpverlening
Poland	Joannici Dzieło Pomocy	Joannici Dzieło Pomocy
Sweden	Johanniterhjälpen i Sverige	Johanniterhjälpen
Switzerland	Oeuvre d’Entraide de la Commanderie Suisse de l’Ordre de St Jean	Oeuvre d’Entraide de la Commanderie Suisse de l’Ordre de St Jean
Wales	St John Cymru-Wales	St John Cymru-Wales

Activity areas

Although the services provided by the 16 member organisations often vary substantially, they all share a common approach to humanitarian welfare and social aid. They work with volunteers and employees to care for people in need in everyday life and in times of crisis. Their services and support are open to everyone. In particular, JOIN members are active in the areas of emergency medical rescue,^[3][4][5] patient transport services,^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]} first aid,^[12] first aid training,^[13][14] international humanitarian assistance,^[15][16] youth work,^{[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]} food and clothing donations, educational institutions, patient repatriation,^[24] services for the disabled,^{[25][26][27][28]} elderly care^[29][30][31] and many others.

Specific initiatives carried out in recent years under the JOIN banner have included different women's groups, educational projects and co-operatives in Djibouti,^[32] humanitarian aid and healthcare provision in Pakistan,^[33][34] and distribution of medical and food supplies in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.^[35]

Johanniter International in Brussels

The JOIN office is located in Brussels.^[36] Its proximity to the institutions of the European Union (EU) enables it to closely monitor developments on a European level relevant to JOIN members. The office also encourages contact and the exchange of information between the members themselves. Other tasks include moderating and coordinating the activities of JOIN members in the different working groups and other meetings aiming at further cooperation in various fields such as social and health policy, emergency rescue and humanitarian aid. The office advocates the interests of JOIN members within NGO interest groups as well as the institutions of the EU, for example in the field of volunteering as part of the European Year of Volunteering 2011 Alliance, of which JOIN was a founder member.^[37] JOIN assisted in publishing the Policy Agenda for Volunteering in Europe (PAVE), outlining recommendations for a more efficient and effective European policy framework to support and promote volunteers and their organisations.^[38] Moreover, the Brussels office assists Johanniter International Assistance, a department of the German Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, with information on activities and briefings by various actors in Brussels in the areas of international humanitarian aid, European civil protection and disaster reduction.^[39]

Working groups

Given the aim of JOIN to derive benefits for its members from increased exchange and cooperation, the working groups are one of the most important institutions in JOIN.^[40] The working groups not only provide a platform where JOIN members can exchange knowledge and experience on any given issue. They also offer a space where JOIN members can set the thematic foundation for common projects. By combining resources within the network, JOIN can realise projects for which individual members might not possess the capacity. Moreover, the working groups also guarantee a participatory and transparent structure within JOIN as participation in the working groups is not only open to all members, but also strongly encouraged. Depending on the working area, it is wise to either set up exchange and cooperation on a permanent basis or merely limit it to one meeting. Accordingly, apart from permanent working groups that meet on a regular basis (usually twice a year), JOIN also organises individual meetings to exchange positions and interests. Topics of the latter include for example the medical sector regarding first aid manuals or cooperation with regard to the European Resuscitation Council, or potential cooperation in patient repatriation. Currently, JOIN features four permanent working groups:

Volunteering

This working group deals with all issues regarding volunteering including amongst others the exchange of volunteers between JOIN members, legal guidelines and recruitment of volunteers.^[41] In 2011, the working group was decisive in preparing JOIN’s activities in the context of the European Year of Volunteering 2011 and carrying out the Europe-wide Volunteer Swap.

Humanitarian Assistance

Johanniter International Assistance is the executive department of Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe (GER) for all activities related to international humanitarian aid.^[42] It fosters worldwide partnerships for the implementation of projects and facilitates cooperation between JOIN members. The international disaster response team of Johanniter comprising some JOIN volunteers have successfully trained and performed in real life response operations such as to the earthquake in Haiti. Director Guido Dost is also head of the JOIN working group.

Youth

Participants in the working group youth discuss common interests in JOIN member’s youth activities such as first aid trainings and competitions, youth exchanges etc.^[43] The working group also facilitates numerous bilateral exchanges between JOIN members.

PR & Marketing

This working group deals with all issues concerning JOIN’s press work, the website, publications as well as corporate identity (CI) and corporate design (CD).^[44] In the past for example it developed the JOIN logo and helped develop brochures on JOIN activities. At the regular meetings, experiences, best practices and know-how are also shared. Related issues such as fundraising and the JOIN-internal purchasing of medical equipment have also been part of the group discussions. In 2011, the PR & Marketing group greatly contributed to JOIN’s public activities as part of the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

References

External links

• Johanniter International - official website